Archive for the 'Chad Painchaud' Tag Under 'Ducks' Category

Newly acquired Ducks left wing Brad Larsen went on the ice for a third consecutive day Wednesday, but he isn't right.

The apparent lower-abdominal strain that began plaguing Larsen before he reported to training camp with the Atlanta Thrashers last month continues to be a problem, and the Ducks are attempting to arrange for Larsen to see a specialist in hopes of getting a better handle on the situation.

If it can be worked out, Larsen will travel to Philadelphia to see Dr. William Meyers, a leading expert in treating sports hernias and related issues. Among the many athletes whom Meyers has performed surgery on are Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere and centers Todd Marchant and SamuelPahlsson.

Larsen, too, underwent a surgery performed by Meyers, nine years ago for a similar issue.

"He's definitely one of the best at what he does," Larsen said Wednesday. "With his experience, hopefully he'll be able to give me a definitive answer. These kinds of injuries are tough. Until you get in there and look, it's hard to decipher if it's major or just a strain or what."

Ducks general manager Brian Burke and newly re-signed right wing Teemu Selanne might not be on exactly the same page, but they're close enough.

In the wake of getting Selanne to autograph a two-year, $5.25 million contract Sunday, Burke told reporters that the multi-year pact had resulted from a Selanne request, and in fact that the Finnish Flash had initially asked for a three-year deal.

"No, I think that was his dream," Selanne responded after scoring two power-play goals in his first exhibition action of the season, Sunday night's 5-4, shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks at Honda Center.

"I thought a two-year deal made more sense," Burke said. "He clearly feels he can play two more years."

While the Ducks are once again above the NHL's $56.7 million salary cap, by about $1.225 million, according to their own internal projection, the club is in nowhere near the dangerous situation as before Friday's trade of veteran defenseman Mathieu Schneider to the Atlanta Thrashers for defenseman Ken Klee, left wing Brad Larsen and minor-league left wing Chad Painchaud.

The salary cap-strapped Ducks finally pulled the trigger on the long-awaited Mathieu Schneider trade Friday, sending the veteran defenseman to the Atlanta Thrashers for two veterans, defenseman Ken Klee and left wing Brad Larsen, and minor-league left wing Chad Painchaud.

The trade is contingent on Schneider passing a physical before 5 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday. Until he does so, the new Ducks acquisitions will not be allowed to practice with the team. Schneider, 39, has not been in Ducks camp since players reported Sept. 19, having received permission to stay away while awaiting a trade.

The move clears Schneider's $5.625 million salary-cap hit off the books for the Ducks, who pick up cap hits of $1.25 million for Klee and $535,000 for Larsen, whose actual salary this season will be $560,000. Both are set to become unrestricted free agents after this season. Painchaud, who is on a two-way contract, does not enter into the salary-cap equation.

The net cap savings of $3.84 million is more than enough to offset the approximately $3.05 million the Ducks had been above the NHL's $56.7 million limit, but more moves will likely have to be made for the club to create enough room to sign unrestricted free-agent right wing Teemu Selanne.